Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[veritas]

So what percent of streaming services commercials do you guys actually watch. I almost always mute them instantly and walk away so I’m guessing less then .1% of the commercials on Hulu are actually seen by me.

I feel like it would be better for everyone to have 5 or 10 secs commercials. Basically if they push a 2 min commercial I see none of it but a 10 sec commercial I would probably see most all of. The longer they make them the less people will see.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

How can a disc that hasn’t released yet be condemned? We don’t know until March, yet many have already made their mind up that it (True Lies) stinks.

These movies in 4K, using these new masters, have recently been released digitally. For the record, I have not watched them, so I am not making a first-hand judgement. But based on what others here have said...

While the quality of a 4K disc will be better than the quality of a 4K stream based on the same film transfer, it doesn't mean that the 4K stream is completely without merit. It still can serve as a baseline of what to expect.

If DNR has been applied to these digital releases, then it stands to reason that this will most likely be the case.


Also, I'm going from memory here, but I seem to recall there being previous releases of some of Cameron's movies in which he supervised the transfers/remasters and DNR was applied to them, which most likely means that was a choice that he made.

I remember one of the news posts on here being for some then-recent re-release of one of his films that he supervised (it might have been one of the first two Terminator films, but it's been a few years and I forget exactly), and in the comments, there was controversy because of how much DNR was applied.

I recall commenting on this, pointing out the paradox of the situation...

For context, most film fans on this site (and in general) speak out in favor of a director's vision and are in favor of director approved/supervised remasters. But they are also generally against things like DNR, and assume it to be the result of studio meddling (which it often is). And to be clear, in general I agree with these concept up to a point, but I've never been one to look upon the director as being 100% infallible and above questioning.

So if I recall correctly (unfortunately past news comments aren't as easy to search for as past forum posts), my comment pointed out that this is a situation where the director's vision for the remaster involves the use of DNR, so they have to choose which is the bigger priority for them. My position is that I'd rather there not be a lot of DNR that negatively impacts the image and scrubs away detail, regardless of whether or not Cameron approved it.



So given the history behind Cameron's previously approved remasters, and the recent digital releases of these new 4K masters seemingly having a lot of DNR applied to them, I'm not holding my breath on the upcoming 4K disc releases somehow going against this trend. Do I hope that I will be wrong on that? Absolutely! But given the current available evidence, I'm not counting on it.

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Typical keyboard warrior. They are the reasons I post less and less every year.

This is an over-the-top response. He just asked a question.

[t-mel]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

This is an over-the-top response. He just asked a question.

I think it was in response to my comment. I don't see anything wrong with what I said.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

Also, I'm going from memory here, but I seem to recall there being previous releases of some of Cameron's movies in which he supervised the transfers/remasters and DNR was applied to them, which most likely means that was a choice that he made.

That’s the false news about T2. James Cameron never approved that for 4K usage. What he did was approving the master for 3D conversion (which require lots of DNR so the movie won’t look like having mosquitoes in front of the audience) and the studio took that approval out of context and used as a marketing blurb to sell the T2 4K disc.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by t-mel

I think it was in response to my comment. I don't see anything wrong with what I said.

I don’t think it was, I think it was aimed at True Lies 4K thread.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

That’s the false news about T2. James Cameron never approved that for 4K usage. What he did was approving the master for 3D conversion (which require lots of DNR so the movie won’t look like having mosquitoes in front of the audience) and the studio took that approval out of context and used as a marketing blurb to sell the T2 4K disc.

This was years ago. It may have even been for a standard Blu-Ray release and not 4K. Again, I forget the exact release. I mainly remember the general conversation

At any rate, I hope to be proven wrong on there being a ton of DNR on these upcoming discs. But if the current 4K digital releases have it, then there is at least a good chance the discs will as well.

[t-mel]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

That’s the false news about T2. James Cameron never approved that for 4K usage. What he did was approving the master for 3D conversion (which require lots of DNR so the movie won’t look like having mosquitoes in front of the audience) and the studio took that approval out of context and used as a marketing blurb to sell the T2 4K disc.

He had plausible deniability when it was his only 4k, now that we have several and all have these problems to various degrees, I don't think that explanation holds any more.

[cheez avenger]

Just finished watching Training Day on 4K disc and it was a beauty. Great video and a stellar Dolby Atmos soundtrack.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by t-mel

He had plausible deniability when it was his only 4k, now that we have several and all have these problems to various degrees, I don't think that explanation holds any more.

The level of grain scrubbing on the new 4K are NOWHERE near T2 4K, not even in the same neighborhood. Regardless, until I see how the actual disc look like, I’m not going to comment on the streaming version (which I watched and like I said, nowhere near T2 4K atrocity)

[stonesfan129]

Watched The Man From Nowhere 4KBD tonight, looked really nice.

[t-mel]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

The level of grain scrubbing on the new 4K are NOWHERE near T2 4K, not even in the same neighborhood. Regardless, until I see how the actual disc look like, I’m not going to comment on the streaming version (which I watched and like I said, nowhere near T2 4K atrocity)

I said to "varying degrees." But to me True Lies looks so bad it's virtually unwatchable. Unwatchable is unwatchable, even if T2 is "more" unwatchable.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by t-mel

I said to "varying degrees." But to me True Lies looks so bad it's virtually unwatchable. Unwatchable is unwatchable, even if T2 is "more" unwatchable.

I will attempt to watch True Lies when it comes to UHD BD.

I actually didn't have a problem with the UHD BD of T2. I know there is a problem with it but for whatever reason I think I just watched the movie and forgot to notice. I kept the Skynet Blu Ray version which apparently is better. If pixel peepers or generally cranky videophiles want to watch that version I have it ready to go.

I just checked and there are lots of copies of the True Lies DVD on Ebay at the moment. I should maybe pick one of those up and then I can decide between the 2 versions which I like better.

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by t-mel

I said to "varying degrees." But to me True Lies looks so bad it's virtually unwatchable. Unwatchable is unwatchable, even if T2 is "more" unwatchable.

Many of us grew up using rabbit ears on our TV's. When VHS came out we were so happy that it allowed us to pick the movies we wanted to watch at home. It will be nearly impossible for us to consider this transfer unwatchable.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by russweiss1

Many of us grew up using rabbit ears on our TV's. When VHS came out we were so happy that it allowed us to pick the movies we wanted to watch at home. It will be nearly impossible for us to consider this transfer unwatchable.

Amen.

[t-mel]

Originally Posted by russweiss1

Many of us grew up using rabbit ears on our TV's. When VHS came out we were so happy that it allowed us to pick the movies we wanted to watch at home. It will be nearly impossible for us to consider this transfer unwatchable.

I watched films on VHS too. It's 2023 now. Times have changed. And I find funny people would criticise quality on streaming when it is lightyears better than that but at the same time find abomination discs acceptable. It's not like it's the only version. The Spanish bootleg will likely still be better. The T2 Blu Ray is better than the 4k. Probably same will be true of Aliens too, and Titanic I wouldn't be surprised if many find the Blu Ray better also. Whenever Terminator comes out on 4k, the Blu Ray is likely to remain better also.

[t-mel]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I will attempt to watch True Lies when it comes to UHD BD.

I actually didn't have a problem with the UHD BD of T2. I know there is a problem with it but for whatever reason I think I just watched the movie and forgot to notice. I kept the Skynet Blu Ray version which apparently is better. If pixel peepers or generally cranky videophiles want to watch that version I have it ready to go.

I just checked and there are lots of copies of the True Lies DVD on Ebay at the moment. I should maybe pick one of those up and then I can decide between the 2 versions which I like better.

Bit of a stretch to call them "pixel peepers" when the whole frame is bad at viewing distance.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I will attempt to watch True Lies when it comes to UHD BD.

I actually didn't have a problem with the UHD BD of T2. I know there is a problem with it but for whatever reason I think I just watched the movie and forgot to notice. I kept the Skynet Blu Ray version which apparently is better. If pixel peepers or generally cranky videophiles want to watch that version I have it ready to go.

I just checked and there are lots of copies of the True Lies DVD on Ebay at the moment. I should maybe pick one of those up and then I can decide between the 2 versions which I like better.

The True Lies DVD is non-anamorphic.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by t-mel

I watched films on VHS too. It's 2023 now. Times have changed. And I find funny people would criticise quality on streaming when it is lightyears better than that but at the same time find abomination discs acceptable. It's not like it's the only version. The Spanish bootleg will likely still be better. The T2 Blu Ray is better than the 4k. Probably same will be true of Aliens too, and Titanic I wouldn't be surprised if many find the Blu Ray better also. Whenever Terminator comes out on 4k, the Blu Ray is likely to remain better also.

The streaming version is going to have the A.I, just with a lower bit rate. Why do you think streaming will bypass all this AI stuff. It’s cheap, it will be used non stop.
Regardless, the 4K disc will still be the best presentation.

This is just a new toy. They will refine it and continue developing year after year. CGI can take you out of a movie, so can poor practical effects. Doesn’t stop me buying my favourites. Also, a few people who have been advocating for HFR, are the same folk bemoaning The AI technology. Nothing takes me out of a movie like HFR.

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by t-mel

I watched films on VHS too. It's 2023 now. Times have changed. And I find funny people would criticise quality on streaming when it is lightyears better than that but at the same time find abomination discs acceptable. It's not like it's the only version. The Spanish bootleg will likely still be better. The T2 Blu Ray is better than the 4k. Probably same will be true of Aliens too, and Titanic I wouldn't be surprised if many find the Blu Ray better also. Whenever Terminator comes out on 4k, the Blu Ray is likely to remain better also.

I still buy SOV titles on blu-ray which I know will have low PQ. My response to your post was due to you saying something is unwatchable. My definition of that word is quite different from yours.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by t-mel

Bit of a stretch to call them "pixel peepers" when the whole frame is bad at viewing distance.

I haven't seen the disc yet.

I am sure you haven't either.

I'm not going to pre-judge it based on the online copy. The online copy is for people who don't care at all about quality.

When I see it I will decide how I feel about it.